FR 801 summit(ui): Flagpole Mountain

FR 801 summit(u): Flagpole Mountain

The plateau on the south side of the Colorado River, between Battlement Mesa and Glenwood Springs hardly ever sees any bicycle traffic. Instead this is the territory of countless cows and gas well service vehicles, as evidenced by cryptic numerical signs. Instead of pointing out destinations, they name culverts and number parcels of land. The traffic is so light, that once past the few farms in the valley, I didn't see a single vehicle. That includes gas well service vehicles, but that may have changed by now. Despite the large elevation gain the summit barely gets above treeline, but instead climbs into denser and denser forest. Only at the very top the West Elk Mountains can be glimpsed behind the trees. In spite of this obscuity and lack of alpine vistas, these climbs exhibit some of the largest elevation gains in Colorado.

The loop portion of this profile follows FR 801 all the way, even if no signs along the route indicate this

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01.(5470ft,mile00) START-END EAST: jct: Divide Creek road - county road on south side of Colorado River, 5 miles west of New Castle
02.(6160ft,mile06) stay left along East Divide Creek
03.(8050ft,mile17) jct with Road Gulch on left
04.(8410ft,mile19) jct with trail up Camp Creek, labeled Flagpole Mtn loop on left
05.(9110ft,mile22) profile stays right up towards Coal Ridge
06.(9910ft,mile25) T junction with improved dirt road, stay right
07.(10400ft,mile26) TOP
08.(9530ft,mile28) junction with route to Horse Park and 2nd dirt road downhill on left
09.(6330ft,mile37) route joins road down Alkali Creek
10.(6160ft,mile41) same as point 2
11.(5470ft,mile47) START-END WEST: same as point 1

Approaches

From East. A pleasant shallow paved road climbs gradually up a rolling inclined plain with the Grand Hogback Ridge marking the northern horizon. There are many routes up this initial plane, but the most direct way follows Divide Creek Road, taking East Divide Creek Road at the split. At the junction the route is still paved and the route to West Divide Creek crosses the creek at a ranch. The next turnoff is the route up Road Gulch. Past that the surface deteriorates somewhat ant the first steep stretches begin. The route up Camp Creek is shown on many maps as a road. But today it is a closed road that has been turned into a single track trail. There is a cow camp at the junction. The next intersection at point 5 actually contains a sign. This climb gradually enters a thick moist forest that one would never suspect far above the arid valley scenery. If there is snow on the route it is between here and point 6. Here the route turns right onto a well improved small gravel road that is very bikable. A final straight stretch to the summit leads out onto a barely forested summit with Mount Scopris finally appearing above the surrounding hills just a bit. A spur road at the summit leads only to a few gas wells.

From West. The route is described downwards. The upper switchbacks offer gradiose views through road cuts between deep forest onto the Roan Plateau across the river, and the straight line ridge complexes of the low ridges surrounding Battlement Mesa. During late afternoon the scene is frontally lit, reducing the complex ridges to black cutouts. The next major intersection contains the second set of signs along the route. This route continues straight and is simply signed "Silt". The descent along the next section generally scares flocks of cows into a gallop. They subsequently hurl themselves into the bushes with a thud. The route finally follows the road down Alkali Creek to a farm. There are other longer ways to return to the starting point that do not double back on themselves. But the route in the profile is the most direct.

Dayrides.

(paved+unpaved): a loop ride starting and ending in New Castle measured 66 miles with 7800ft of climbing in 6:4 hours (m3:3.09.20) using a Avocet 50 altimeter. Another time, when the route was slightly muddy and snowy, it measured 68 miles with 6000ft of climbing using a VDO MC1.0 cycle computer 7:1 hours (m3:7:.09.26).

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